Anyone use Republic Wireless?

I don’t have a smartphone for a few reasons—specifically, I believe that they are ripping us off for the service they provide, I am rarely more than 10 feet from a computer with internet access, and I believe that that extra $40 a month will serve me better in my 401k than in a cell phone.

But then I hear about Republic Wireless. That seems like a pretty good deal. Plans are between $5 and $40 a month, use Sprint towers, and roam to Verizon when there are no Sprint towers available. Sprint actually does have decent coverage around where I am, but even that doesn’t matter since I’d be on WIFI about 80% of the time.

Anybody use them? Thoughts on the service vs. ATT/Verizon? See the plans below.

WiFi Only: $5/month (plus taxes and surcharges)
WiFi only means unlimited talk, text and data—but only on WiFi. Outside of WiFi, your device won’t be able to connect to cellular service.

WiFi + Cell Talk & Text: $10/month (plus taxes and surcharges)
Unlimited talk and text on WiFi and cellular, and unlimited data on Wi-Fi only.

WiFi + Cell + 3G: $25/month (plus taxes and surcharges)
Unlimited talk, text and data on WiFi, plus 3G cellular.

(Note: Every Republic Wireless member has reduced speeds while roaming and an allotment of 25MB of roaming cell data per bill cycle. Please see Data Usage Policy for more info.)

WiFi + Cell + 4G: $40/month (plus taxes and surcharges)
Unlimited talk, text and data on WiFi, plus 4G cellular. (This plan is not available for the Moto E or Moto G.)

(Note: Every Republic Wireless member has reduced speeds while roaming and an allotment of 25MB of roaming cell data per bill cycle. Please see Data Usage Policy for more info.)

For a list of cities that Sprint currently offers 4G LTE in, please go here.

I've been using Republic for about a year now after switching from Verizon. I'm still using the original Defy XT, my wife couldn't deal with no picture messaging on her Defy so I upgraded her to a Moto G model. I don't really have any complaints. It does what I need it to do with minimal price.

Like you said, they use Sprint towers so coverage isn't as good as the Verizon I went from, but for $50 a month for 2 smart phones with unlimited data it can't really be beat.

They used to have a referral program for a free months usage, but looks like they dropped that for now, I was gonna get you discount if it still was.

Bottom line I went from a $130 a month bill to $50 and didn't loose any functionality, except for slower 3G VS 4G connection.

I don't have experience with Republic but I have been using Virgin Mobile on a $35 plan (limited talk, unlimited text and data) for a few years with no complaints.

Wow. I wish I would have heard of them before going to sprint.

A friend has his son on it and I may have to try it when my ATT contract is out. I had Sprint before this and frankly they sucked but I could handle them to save another $40 a month on service.

I've thought about it before. Many people on MMM forums didn't like it that much and proffered some other company that used the ATT network.

I'm on an ATT family plan and pay ~$46 month after taxes and fees for an iPhone with talk/text/data. I actually didn't have texting, but my mom wanted it and upgraded the whole family.

Like you, I believe its both a rip-off and unnecessary, however, its worth the extra $20 a month or so to be able to communicate easier (for them) with my business colleagues.

After someone who had Sprint in a large metro area, sure they had great coverage, but the speed sucked. Like terrible.

I don't see the point in having a service that is too slow to use.

If you're open to Sprint, look at Ting instead of Republic.

Swank Force One wrote: If you're open to Sprint, look at Ting instead of Republic.

I thought that Ting used only Sprint, there was no free roaming (up to 25mb a month) to Verizon?

mtn wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: If you're open to Sprint, look at Ting instead of Republic.

I thought that Ting used only Sprint, there was no free roaming (up to 25mb a month) to Verizon?

I wouldn't base a plan on 25mb of free roaming.

The reason why Ting is attractive is that it doesn't actually limit you. You just pay for what you actually use.

My estimated bill for both our phones is under $70 at average usage from the last 12 months. (Currently on unlimited everything Sprint plan.) That's $35/phone for unlimited everything with the way we use it.

Less than half what Sprint is charging us.

I need to get off my ass and switch over.

Swank Force One wrote:

mtn wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: If you're open to Sprint, look at Ting instead of Republic.

I thought that Ting used only Sprint, there was no free roaming (up to 25mb a month) to Verizon?

I wouldn't base a plan on 25mb of free roaming. The reason why Ting is attractive is that it doesn't actually limit you. You just pay for what you actually use. My estimated bill for both our phones is under $70 at average usage from the last 12 months. (Currently on unlimited everything Sprint plan.) That's $35/phone for unlimited everything with the way we use it. Less than half what Sprint is charging us. I need to get off my ass and switch over.

My thing on the free roaming is that when I go on vacation, I typically go to 1 of 4 places, and 3 of those places do not have Sprint coverage. For a whole week, I wouldn't even have calling or texting capabilities. And yes, I'd need calling/texting on vacation since we no longer have radio on the boats, or house phones, or wifi. Bailed me out more than a few times. (Talk about a first world problem!)

Ting has free roaming... just not data roaming. All Republic is giving you is 25mb of data roaming. Which is like... nothing.

Interesting, I did not see that.

Now it is looking like Ting might be the better deal.

Swank Force One wrote: Ting has free roaming... just not data roaming. All Republic is giving you is 25mb of data roaming. Which is like... nothing.

break that down to english… LOL … as in put it into words that a luddite might understand …

right now I use Net10 … just purchase airtime (which comes with x amt. of min.) every 6 mo. ($100) … I can talk all I want and text all I want .. but (maybe this particular phone) whenever I try to do something like SCCA live timing and scoring, I get the notice… "phone doesn't have enough internal memory" … and since all their tech services are from India/Pakistan/Philippines… wherever … and I can't understand much of anything they say, I really haven't tried to fix my phone so it can do these kind of things

Internal memory is a hardware limitation. Your phone itself. Don't know what your data plan details are.

I am trying MetroPCS at $40 all in with an iPhone 4s and love it. Not a fan of Republic Wireless because 1. Android only, and 2 Sprint network.

I personally don't like Androids and Sprint around here sucks (although in Nashville it was very good)

My sister in law has been on Republic for about a year now and has talked about it for 2. At the time there was one phone option, Moto X(?), now I think there are 3. Republic requires that you buy the phone outright, then get the plan that fits your needs. She's on the $10/month plan since she is almost always within a wifi signal. Republic does allow you to change your plan up to twice a month and it's pro-rated. She just went to a conference in Houston, so she bumped her plan to the 4G for that week then went back to the $10 plan when she got back. So far she has had zero issues.

That being said, my wife was considering Republic for her when her current Verizon contract runs out, and for our son. She looked at Ting as well, and it may be a better deal for us - more phone options, inlcuding used (?), and the ability to share a plan. Republic is all individual plans and you must buy one of 3 new phones.

I understand that it's my phone … and maybe there's a way to expand the memory …

it's not a plan … the phone is a LG900GHL ( http://www.net10.com/phone_details.jsp?model=UCMTST_008627 )

and, like I said, I purchase air time (plus extra min. as needed) every 6 mo.

what I was really after (I guess) was what advantages I might see with something like Ting or Republic

Oh!

In terms of cost... probably none.

But they would let you use modern phones and data. (fast internet browsing, apps, etc)

Swank, with Sprint/Ting do you get the unlimited data while on wifi? I assume that is the same for every provider, but don't know.

Are there roaming limits on talk/text on republic?

mtn wrote: Swank, with Sprint/Ting do you get the unlimited data while on wifi? I assume that is the same for every provider, but don't know.

If you're on wifi, the only data you're using comes from the internet provider to whatever network you're leeching on at the time.

singleslammer wrote: Are there roaming limits on talk/text on republic?

It appears talk/text is unlimited but roaming data is restricted to 25MB.

I love Republic. It can be a bit sluggish but I'm not willing to pay for more speed. I have a total of less than 5 MB roaming YTD.

Friend of mine switched from sprint to Republic and still uses the sprint device.

Other than that I would consider Cricket if att network is good near you.